Franz Sigel (1824-1902)

Franz Sigel was the most famous German-American general in the Union army and a strong influence in immigrant support for the Union cause. Sigel was a German army officer and minister of war who was exiled after the unsuccessful 1848 revolt against the Prussian empire. He came to the United States in 1852 where he became an educator and joined the militia. Sigel served in the Civil War and was ultimately commissioned major general. After the war, he became involved in Republican politics in New York City and edited German-American periodicals.